Báo cáo nghiên cứu khoa học: "Môi trường làm việc nguy hiểm cho các rối loạn cơ xương trong số các nhân viên văn phòng trường đại học ở Khonkaen, Thái Lan"

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Tuyển tập các nghiên cứu khoa học của trường đại học Huế đề tài: Môi trường làm việc nguy hiểm cho các rối loạn cơ xương trong số các nhân viên văn phòng trường đại học ở Khonkaen, Thái Lan...

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Nội dung Text: Báo cáo nghiên cứu khoa học: "Môi trường làm việc nguy hiểm cho các rối loạn cơ xương trong số các nhân viên văn phòng trường đại học ở Khonkaen, Thái Lan"

JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, Hue University, N0 61, 2010 WORK ENVIRONMENT HAZARDS FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AMONG UNIVERSITY OFFICE WORKERS IN KHONKAEN, THAILAND Sunisa Chaiklieng, Pornnapa Suggaravetsiri, Yodchai Boonprakob Khon Kaen University, Thailand SUMMARY Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders are commonly found in office workers, however, it is unclear if work environment factors related to musculoskeletal disorders are common among University officers. This cross-sectional analytical study is aimed at investigating environmental hazards in workplaces for musculoskeletal disorders among University office workers. Methods: 142 participants who were full time University office staff from Khon Kaen University. Demographic characteristics and musculoskeletal disorders were evaluated from structural questionnaires. Anthropometric parameters were determined and ergonomic workstations and illuminations were measured at workstations. Descriptive statistics were percentages, means, and standard deviations (SD). Inferential statistics were chi-square test and the student t-test at 95% confidence interval. Results: The results showed that 81.7% of office workers were female, the mean age was 38.0+10.0 years, the average work experience was 12.3+10.8 years. The one-month prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was 69.0%. The onset of symptoms was during working hours and the majority of self-reported causes was prolonged sitting in the same posture at work (73.3%). Light intensities were lower than the minimum standard requirement (400 lux) for 55.8% workstations. Most workstations (75.6%) had significantly inappropriate height (above elbow height of workers). Moreover, the anthropometric characteristics of musculoskeletal disorders cases were significantly different from healthy office workers (p-value
disorders are prevalent among both women and men. It has been reported that the prevalence of neck or shoulder pain in office workers is much higher than in the general population. Previous studies showed that a one year prevalence of neck pain in office workers at Hong Kong University was found to be 59% and 63% in a Swedish study of medical secretaries. One year prevalence of low back pain among Greek public office workers was 37.8%. Back pain prevalence in academic personnel was 21.8% among school personnel in Nagoya, Japan. Many studies have investigated the relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and risk factors in working conditions. Postulated factors in the occupation group include: individual factors, anthropometric and ergonomic factors (workstations and instruments, lifting, repetitive work), physical factors (prolonged sitting, awkward posture, twisting and bending of the trunk), psychosocial factor i.e. stress and perceived muscular tension. While prevalence of back pain is quite high in university office workers, it is unclear if work environment factors relate to musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate work environment hazards in office workplaces related to musculoskeletal disorders among university officers. 2. Methodology This study was designed as a cross-sectional analytic investigation of 142 university office staff (116 women and 26 men). The participants were invited and interviewed before entering the study. They were considered eligible for inclusion in this study if they were a full-time university employee and had at least one-year working experience at the current position. Participants were excluded if they had chronic musculoskeletal diseases or injuries affecting cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine, renal dysfunction, or unwillingness to participate. Participants were interviewed by using the structural questionnaires dealing with individual factors, musculoskeletal disorders and the onset of symptoms, and working environments. Here we define musculoskeletal disorders as pain experienced in the spine area or more specifically between the inferior angle of the scapula and the gluteal folds, or between the buttocks and the vertebrae prominence applied from Maniadakis and Gray. Participants reported the region of pain by putting X on the area at body chart (drawing) where he/she feel pain. The body weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and anthropometric characteristics were measured using standardized procedures with established reliability. Measured parameters were determined for popliteal height, hip breadth, buttock- popliteal-length, sitting shoulder height, sitting elbow height and elbow height. Waist circumferences which were greater than 80 cm among women and 90 cm among men identified obesity. To investigate work environment factors (ergonomic factors and illuminations), Data logging light meter (model: 401036 version 2.3 11/13, range 20- 200000, Extech Instruments) was used to measure the lighting at 129 work stations 12
during working hours. Illumination data were evaluated by comparing to the standard requirement of general office workplace at 400 lux. The dimensions of table, seat and work area were evaluated from 131 workstations using steel measuring tape. Statistical analysis All analyses were performed using STATA version 8.2, Texas, USA. 2007. The percentage of musculoskeletal disorders and other parameters were calculated as a proportion. Descriptive statistics were percentages, means and standard deviations (SD). The associations between musculoskeletal disorders and studied factors were identified by using chi-square test and student t-test at 95% confidence interval. This study was approved by the appropriated institutional ethical review committee, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. 3. Results 3.1. Demographic characteristics Most participants in this study were women (81.7%). There were 116 women and 26 men. Among office staff, the mean age was 38+10 years (Min=23 years, Max = 59 years). Regarding work experience in current position at the time of answering the questionnaire, the mean value was 12.3+10.8 years (Min =1 years, Max= 39 years). Fifty percent of participants had work experience of less than 10 years. Bachelor degrees were the major group of educational background (79.6%) and another group was master degrees (20.4%). The average body height was 159.2+7.0 cm. The mean WC was 83.6+8.5 cm for men (n=26) and 73.9+9.3 cm for women (n=116), identified no obesity. Most office staff (79.6%) did no regularly exercise (> 30 minutes and >2 times a week). 3.2. Work environment factors To determine work environment hazards, data were collected by both questionnaires and measurements of light intensity, size of table, seat and work area. From questionnaires, participant reported self adjustment of appropriate or inappropriate conditions. Most participants (77.3% or 110 participants) reported appropriate conditions and others (2.7% or 32 participants) reported inappropriate conditions (insufficient light = 8 stations, and glare problem = 24 stations). B y measurements at 129 workstations, an illumination ranged from 110 lux as the minimum to 823 lux as the maximum (Mean = 388.7+139.3 lux) (Table 3). Under Thai regulations for occupational health and work environmenst, the minimum standard requirement of lighting in office workplace is 400 lux. Data showed that illumination of 55.8% workstations were lower than the standard requirement. For ergonomic workstations, results of size measurement of table, chair, and work area were shown in Table 1 as value of 5th, 50th, 95th percentile. We compared 13
body anthropometry of 131 officers to ergonomic workstations (sitting, 131 workstations). Comparison the mean height of table (75.2+1.1 cm) to the mean elbow height (69.5+7.7 cm) showed that the level of 75.6% workstations were significantly above recommended level (below or equal the elbow height) of each workers at p
proportion of musculoskeletal disorders was found in women than men. However, the analyses did not show the significant associations of musculoskeletal disorders to individual factors (age, gender, work experience, obese) as several previous studies. One suggestion from the results is that a design using a larger sample size might be helpful for more powerful statistical analysis. Comparisons to Thai regulations for occupational health and work environment, measurements showed that 55.8% of workstations had lower intensity than the minimum standard requirement (400 lux). The problem of insufficient lighting and glare were also reported by office workers. Although, the glare problem was not confirmed by measurement, from observation, participants complained that too much glare from the sunlight in the morning and the afternoon caused the problem when look at the screen of computer. These results identified the unsafe conditions in university office workplace. Previous studies rarely reported the association of glare or the lack of local lighting and musculoskeletal disorders. However, insufficient illumination and glare might force workers to adopt awkward posture in order to see their work or the screen, leading to musculoskeletal disorders. The significant greater of the seat dimension compared to anthropometric parameters of workers indicated the dimension-adjustable seat in this study. Interestingly, the anthropometric characteristics i.e. the hip breadth, buttock popliteal- length and sitting elbow height of cases were significantly different from healthy officers (p
musculoskeletal disorders. 5. Conclusions The high prevalence and causes of musculoskeletal disorders reported by university office workers indicate an adverse health effect from office work. This study discovered inappropriate ergonomic workstations for university office workers. The level of most workstations was significantly higher than the elbow height of each o fficer worker and the anthropometric characteristics i.e. the hip breadth, buttock popliteal-length and sitting elbow height of cases were significantly different from healthy o fficers (p
(g)
Characteristics Musculoskeletal disorders (mean+SD) Yes (n=98) No (n=44) p-value Sitting elbow height (cm) 24.8+4.9 23.2+5.4 *0.048 Elbow height (cm) 69.5+7.5 69.4+8.1 0.455 *Indicates significant difference at p-value 400 lux 37 (64.9) 20 (35.1) Acknowledgement This study was supported financially by Khon Kaen University. Khon Kaen, Thailand. 18
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